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Pulong Duterte appeals to House members P
President Rodrigo Duterte talks to his son, Paolo Duterte, at San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila in this file government photo. (King Rodriguez)
RESIDENTIAL SON and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte appealed to lawmakers to respect each other amid the row in the House leadership between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco. war between the two alBoth Cayetano and 14. Velasco are strong politiBut Cayetano insisted lies, he said: “Due to this cal allies of President Ro- to stay after lawmakers al- issue on the term-shardrigo Duterte. lied with him rejected his ing agreement, Congress Cayetano was sup- resignation to pave way is currently mired in posed to hand over his po- for the transition, adding, what seems to be a batsition September 30 to Ve- more than 200 lawmakers tle between two people lasco as part of their 2019 from 304 representatives I’m close with. I am saddened that it has come team-sharing agreement. are supporting him. Friends to this —a House dividThe president also spoke The young Duterte ed. And if we remain a to Cayetano and Velasco to end their squabble with admitted being friends to House divided, we will Velasco taking over the both Cayetano and Velas- fail in our mandate to Continue on page 3 House leadership October co, but because of tug-of-
China’s Disinformation Campaign in the Philippines ‘Philippines has been the perfect target for Chinese political interference – but it won’t be Beijing’s last victim.’ IN U.S.-China relations, “coordinated inauthentic behavior” is no longer just a polite description for bilateral summits,
but the latest tactic in the on-going competition for power and influence in the Indo-Pacific. On September 22,
Facebook announced that it had dismantled a Chinese disinformation campaign that used false Continue on page 3
Pacquiao could lose WBA welterweight title WORLD BOXING News or WBN reported that Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao may be stripped of his World Boxing Association or WBA welterweight title if he goes through with a Continue on page 2
Pacquiao Facebook page
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October 12-18, 2020
Catamco namahagi ng tulong
Si North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco habang kausap ang mga residenteng biktima ng nakalipas na lindol sa bayan ng Makilala sa larawang ito mula sa kanyang social media page. (Rhoderick Beñez) KIDAPAWAN CITY – Todo ang pasasalamat ng mga residente ng Makilala sa tulong na ipinamahagi ni Governor Nancy Catamco bilang suporta sa mga biktima ng nakaraang lindol na ngayon ay nanatili pa rin sa mga relocation sites sa kalagitnaan ng coronavirus pandemic. Mahigit sa P6 milyon ang naipamahagi ni Catamco sa mga residente ng Barangay Luayon. Umabot sa 606 ang benepisyaryo ng ayuda mula sa butihing gobernadora. “Ang importante bisan hinay-hinay pero naay
solusyon ang sitwasyon,” ani Catamco. Sinabi naman ni Malasila Barangay Chairman Melvin Fortajada na lubhang napakaswerte ng mga residente ng taga-Luayon sa tulong na naigawad sa kanila ni Catamco. Sa covered court ng Malasila isinagawa ang distribusyon ng tulong sa mga benepisyaryo na katanggap ng P10,000 bawat isa at ito ay liban pa sa mga tulong-pinansyal na matatanggap ng mga biktima mula sa National Government. Tiniyak naman ni
Fortajada na ang lahat ay malugod nyang tinatanggap bilang residente, kaugnay ito ng panukalang itatayong relocation site sa Malasila. Nagpaalala naman si Catamco sa bawat isa na maging maingat at panatilihin ang physical distancing at sumunod sa health protocols at quarantine guidelines. “Dapat ay panatilihing ang pag-iingat laban sa banta ng Covid-19. Lahat tayo ay biktima ng panahon, ngunit ang ating pagkakaisa ang syang solusyon,” wika nito. Kasama ni Catamco sa aktibidad sina Mayor Armando Quibod at kanyang maybahay na si Conchita Quibod; Board Members Onofre Respicio at Dr. Philbert Malaluan, gayun rin sina Councilors Christine Ang-Malaluan, William Apostol, at Teoderito Orbita. Nagpapasalamat si Catamco sa patuloy na pakikipagtulungan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Makilala, kawani ng ibatibang ahensya ng provincial government. (Rhoderick Beñez)
Pacquiao could lose WBA welterweight title Continued from page 1 fight against Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor. Rumors that Pacquiao – who is also a member of the Philippine senate would fight McGregor began in 2019, according to the report which further said that “both parties have since ratified them during the pandemic crisis. Now, it looks as though a money-spinning battle will go down for charity in the second quarter of 2021.” McGregor, in a recent tweet, said: “Anyway all water under the bridge who gives a fook. I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East.” Sports Insider also tweeted in August that the McGregor has been teasing a comeback, and one option could involve a $250 million mega-bout against Pacquiao. But WBN said: “As the current WBA welterweight
champion, Pacquiao will almost certainly be relieved of the strap if he doesn’t defend it in the next few months. Due to Covid-19, it’s already been over a year since the Filipino Senator took the belt from Keith Thurman in Las Vegas.” It added: “The World Boxing Association would have given Pacquiao a grace period due to the coronavirus stopping so many fights. But they will want movement in the next six months or so. It’s highly doubtful that Pacquiao will be able to wait another year to defend the championship.” WBN said at present, Yordinis Ugas is the ‘regular’ champion. The Cuban will want his shot at the full version to be recognized entirely as the real belt holder. Therefore, Pacquiao will undoubtedly have to face Ugas in 2021. If he doesn’t, the WBA will
be forced to act and elevated Ugas to full titleholder. As WBN previously pointed out, Pacquiao won’t be able to defend his strap against McGregor as the UFC star is 0-1 in a boxing ring. He’s also unranked. McGregor would have to fight somebody else first. Possibly pick up a fringe WBA title in order to be rated. “The WBA would then have to agree a request for Pacquiao to put it on the line in an exhibition charity bout. An entirely unlikely scenario, in a nutshell, Pacquiao will no longer be a champion at 147 pounds if he does go through with the McGregor event. The timeframe doesn’t fit. The WBA could then sanction Ugas vs. interim champion, Jamal James, for the full title,” the report - filed by Phil Jay, the Editor of WBN - said. (WBN. With additional report from the Mindanao Examiner)
Dozens of Badjaos quarantined in Sulu
A photo from the Sulu Task Force - Covid-19 headed by Gov. Sakur Tan shows returning Badjaos in Jolo pier. DOZENS OF Badjaos who were sent home from Bacolod City have been placed under a mandatory quarantine in the town of Omar in Sulu province as part of a strict health protocol being implemented by the local
Covid-19 task force. The task force, headed by Gov. Sakur Tan, said 82 Badjaos - 27 of them children – arrived recently in the province after Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia facilitated their re-
turn in coordination with Sulu government through its “Hatid Probinsya” program. Jainab Abdulmajid, the task force spokeswoman, said the Coast Guard under Lt. Col. Antolin Cayabo transported the Badjaos to the town of Omar where Mayor Abdulbaki Adjibon provided them with hygiene kit and cooking utensils for the duration of their two-week mandatory quarantine in the village of Lahing-Lahing. The quarantine facility is being managed by the local government. Before their arrival in Omar, Abdulmajid briefed the Badjaos and gave an orientation on health protocols and quarantine procedures. (Mindanao Examiner)
Yubenco Supermarket guard accused of groping ZAMBOANGA CITY – A female security guard was accused of groping a woman at a supermarket here at a time health authorities and local government are strictly implementing physical distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. The woman went to the office of the Zamboanga Post to tell her ordeal in the hands of the security guard. She said she was groped by the security guard at the entrance of the Yubenco Supermarket in Barangay Tetuan. “I was groped. I was the only one groped among oth-
er female customers lining up at the entrance. It was like a scene at an airport in the US where passengers are search thoroughly, but Yubenco is not a US airport and this happened while everybody is observing physical distancing due to Covid,” she told the Zamboanga Post. The shopper said she complained to the supermarket supervisor and called the security guard and others manning the entrance. “I was only told (by the supervisor) that they will just talk with the security guard about the incident,” she said, adding,
the incident occurred recently. The woman said security guards should not have physical contact with supermarket goers because not only it violates health protocols set by authorities, it also put the customers at great risk of contracting the coronavirus disease and is a form of sexual harassment. There was no immediate statement from Yubenco Supermarket and its contact number 0997-6027570 listed on Facebook was unavailable and cannot be reached. (Zamboanga Post)
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Pulong Duterte appeals to House members
A photo from the Facebook page of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco shows him with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Bong Go in a recent meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte. Continued from page 1 serve the people as their representatives.” Duterte said Velasco has the right to assert his claim, however, majority of the lawmakers are supporting Cayetano. “It can’t be denied that
such a term-sharing agreement was made before. Because of this, Congressman Velasco has the right to assert his claim to the Speakership. However, we have also seen that a considerable number of our colleagues still support
Speaker Cayetano.” Unified House “As I am all for a unified House, and given the value I place in every member of Congress, I refuse to make any statement that will favor or damage either of my two good friends who are
both asserting their right to be our Speaker,” he said. Cayetano said more than 200 lawmakers from 304 representatives are supporting him. Duterte said if and when the day comes that they are called to select the House leader, “I hope we vote for someone who is committed, who understands what we want to achieve for our constituents, and who can fight for and with us, and unify the 300 members of this House of Representatives despite our many differences. And when we do make that decision, I hope we can find it in our hearts to vote for someone, not just for convenience or affiliation, but whom we feel strongly can represent the House with the dignity that it deserves.” “And whatever may be the result of this, I hum-
bly ask my colleagues to remain respectful to one another, and support whoever is the Speaker. At the end of this episode, I hope we can go beyond politics and remember that more than power, it is the relationships we’ve formed in these halls of Congress and our duties to the people that matter most,” he added. Duterte’s statement was shared by his allies in the House - Rep. Eric Yap, of ACT-CIS party-list; and Sulu Rep. Samier Tan. Uphold Agreement For his part, Velasco said trust and honor are values that are important because they reveal true character of a leader. “When the House Speakership term-sharing agreement was entered into, it was based on mutual trust and confidence. After all, it was an agree-
ment brokered by and forged in the presence of no less than President Rodrigo Duterte.” “The covenant was crystal clear: a 15-21 term-sharing agreement. The first term expires on Sept 30, after which the second term immediately begins. That was the pledge made before the President. As true leaders and as examples for our people, both sides are obligated to avoid situations or statements that would subvert the agreement and betray the trust of our people who’ve stood witness to the covenant. Let us uphold the agreement as this was made - for God and our country 1521 - I have always intended to honor the agreement. We all should. Our people deserve nothing less,” Velasco said. (Mindanao Examiner)
China’s Disinformation Campaign in the Philippines ‘Philippines has been the perfect target for Chinese political interference – but it won’t be Beijing’s last victim.’ Continued from page 1 accounts and profiles to dupe unwitting individuals into consuming Chinese disinformation. Dubbed “Operation Naval Gazing” by the social media analysis firm Graphika, the network consisted of 155 accounts, 11 pages, nine groups and six Instagram accounts and attracted an audience of at least 130,000 followers. The network particularly targeted the Philippines, where it actively interfered in Philippine politics and generated millions of digital interactions by promoting politicians favorable to China, including President Rodrigo Duterte. This marks the second time that Facebook has removed disinformation networks emanating from China and heralds a new age of information warfare in the Indo-Pacific, where the United States and allies like the Philippines are uniquely vulnerable to attack.
China’s embrace of foreign influence operations marks an important evolution in its cyber statecraft. While Beijing has long embraced cyber espionage in particular as a central facet of its national security, it has historically struggled with information warfare. Yet a reassessment appears to be under way in Beijing. After witnessing Russia’s successful use of information operations, particularly in election interference, China has made a concerted effort to learn Russian disinformation tactics and adapt them to its own interests. During the 2020 Taiwan presidential election, China conducted a dedicated but ultimately unsuccessful campaign to use disinformation to sway the election and derail the re-election campaign of President Tsai Ing-wen. China has enjoyed greater success in using information operations to rebuff criticism of its han-
dling of COVID-19. One video titled “Once upon a virus….”, contrasting China’s response to the pandemic with that of the U.S. memorably led Peter Singer to tweet: “You know that scene in Jurassic Park, the moment when the Velociraptor learns to turn the doorknob? This is it for China in online info-war.” Operation Naval Gazing reflects this evolution in Chinese cyber operations. The earliest accounts within the network date to 2016; they focused on Taiwanese politics and advanced pro-mainland positions like espousing the benefits of reunification. However, a shift occurred in 2018 when the network broadened its activities to include a more dedicated focus on naval affairs and regional politics. In particular, the network created several Facebook portals focused on the South China Sea that trumpeted Chinese naval accomplishments and derided American activities. The network would eventually create pro-China content targeting Indonesia and the U.S., but only managed to gain significant traction in the Philippines. The Philippines provided an ideal target for China to exercise its capabilities in foreign influence operations and is uniquely susceptible to manipulation through Facebook. Beyond being an American ally and a strategic pivot in the In-
Presidentital daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte with Presidents Xi Jinping and Rodrigo Duterte. (PCOO) do-Pacific, the Philippines is also the most social media addicted country in the world. The Philippines tops the world in daily usage of social media, with Filipinos spending an average of roughly 4 hours per day on social media. Facebook dominates the Philippine social media landscape with 75 million active users representing 71 percent of the Philippines’ population. This fervor for Facebook is not an accident, but an acute reflection of the informational and digital realities in the Philippines. In a country plagued by poor digital infrastructure, mobile devices have become the primary means through which Filipinos access the internet. However, mobile data plans remain expensive. To circumvent this obstacle to entry, in 2013 Facebook partnered with local carriers to offer “Free
Facebook,” a plan that allowed mobile subscribers to access Facebook without using data. The result has been a meteoric rise in Facebook usage throughout the country. As Davey Alba at BuzzFeed News noted, “for many in one of the most persistently poor nations in the world, Facebook is the only way to access the internet.” Facebook’s dominance as an information source has already made disinformation a common feature of Philippine politics. It was critical to bolstering Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential campaign in 2016. Since the election, disinformation has continued to be employed to defend Duterte’s violent war on drugs, discredit critics and undermine rival media outlets like Rappler and ABS-CBN. It is this combination of social media supremacy and undermining of traditional media outlets that made
the Philippines such a welcoming target for Chinese manipulation. Beginning in March 2018, the Operation Naval Gazing began creating a series of Facebook accounts, pages and groups that explicitly targeted Philippine politics. The pages promoted the activities of politicians seen as sympathetic to China, including President Rodrigo Duterte, his daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio (the mayor of Davao City and a potential successor as president), and Imee Marcos (the daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos), who was elected to the Philippine Senate in 2019. While Naval Gazing’s other influence operations fizzled, its interference in the Philippines flourished. One Facebook group backing Imee Marcos attracted over 50,000 followers and, despite being active since January Continue on page 7
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Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Task Force Covid-19, and Jolo Municipal Government)
October 12-18, 2020
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Sulu Pictures in the News
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China’s Disinformation Campaign in the Philippines ‘Philippines has been the perfect target for Chinese political interference – but it won’t be Beijing’s last victim.’ Continued from page 3 2019, a group named Solid Sarah Z Duterte 2022 (referring to her potential presidential bid) made 115,000 posts and generated over 9.1 million interactions. Operation Naval Gazing’s explicit and unequivocal interference raises difficult questions in Manila about the outsized role that social media plays in public life, and the nation’s subsequent susceptibility to disinformation. In particular, it will be fascinating to see whether President Duterte’s vocal disdain for foreign meddling extends to his allies or whether his ire is solely reserved for foreign critics. Yet, it is a mistake to view China’s activities only through the lens of Philippine politics. Facebook’s exposure of Chinese influence operations illustrates a larger strategic evolution and constitutes a direct
challenge to both the U.S.-Philippine alliance and American defense prerogatives throughout the Indo-Pacific. The launch of Naval Gazing’s Philippine campaign in March 2018 was not tied Philippine politics but was initiated immediately after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reaffirmed American defense commitments to the Philippines in the South China Sea. On Facebook the various profiles, page, and groups not only promoted politicians aligned with China, but unambiguously campaigned for the Philippines to realign itself with China. For example, amid the Covid-19 outbreak Naval Gazing defended China’s handling of the pandemic, celebrated medical aid from Beijing despite its dubious benefits and praised China for its generosity in offering as-yet non-existent vaccines to the Philippines.
The South China Sea featured prominently throughout these efforts, including praise for Duterte after he stated that China was “in possession” of the South China Sea. Taken collectively these elements demonstrate a concerted campaign to weaponize social media against the U.S.-Philippine alliance. Having failed to either bully the Philippines into obedience or buy its acquiescence, China has now embraced political interference as a means of decoupling the Philippines from the U.S. Specifically, China has identified the political discord within the U.S.-Philippine alliance as the partnership’s greatest vulnerability and recognized social media as the ideal tool with which to inflame this divide and achieve its strategic objectives. Importantly, while the Philippines’ fondness for Facebook makes it particularly suscepti-
LSI nagpakamatay! MAGUINDANAO – Isang locally stranded individual ang nagpatiwakal habang nasa loob ng quarantine facility sa bayan ng Upi sa lalawigan ng Maguindanao.
Humihingi ng imbestigasyon ang pamilya sa pagkamatay ng 19-anyos na lalaki na inilagay sa 14-day quarantine period matapos itong bumalik sa kanilang lugar.
Isa umanong carwash boy sa Tacurong City ang lalaki, ngunit isinailalim pa ito sa mandatory quarantine period kahit pa walang simtomas ng coronavirus. (Rhoderick Beñez)
ble to foreign influence operations, the underlying conditions of intra-alliance tension that made the campaign dangerous color security partnerships throughout the region. Rather than being a brief foray into active measures, Operation Naval Gazing evinces a wider strategic embrace of foreign influence operations by China that could begin to erode the U.S. alliance system. In the face of a similar threat from Russian active measures, NATO has pioneered a collaborative approach to cyber defense and created innovative programs like the Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence and a handbook on Russian information operations to help member-states detect and defeat foreign influence operations. It is essential that similar programs be developed and implemented in the Indo-Pacific as well. Proactive engagement with partners like the Philippines to develop capabilities to resist malicious cyber campaigns are essential to seizing the initiative in the information environment and must be enshrined as a strategic priority. Expanding existing defense cooperation initiatives and training programs to include cybersecurity is an essential first step but combating disinforma-
tion cannot succeed as a military undertaking alone. Instead, as the U.S. adopts a more competitive posture in its cyber diplomacy, cooperative engagement with partners like the Philippines should be a focal point of these undertakings and provide a framework for collaborative action not just with partner states but also between American agencies as well. Indeed, to mitigate underlying conditions and societal factors like the Philippines’ Facebook’s addiction it is necessary to embrace an interdisciplinary and inter-departmental framework. Ultimately, a wide range of policy resources and expertise is re-
quired to implement programs like infrastructure development, media literacy training and cybersecurity education that are necessary to build community resilience against foreign manipulation. At its heart, Operation Naval Gazing is a warning siren as to whether Tokyo, Seoul, Canberra, Manila and especially Washington are willing to take proactive measures to defend their information environments. If not, they will again risk being caught flatfooted as a foreign actor learns to use social media to undermine their collective security. (By Gregory Winger - The Diplomat)
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October 12-18, 2020
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Cebu, Visayas proclaimed Best Islands in Asia
C
EBU PROVINCE proves to be a place which has stayed in the heart and mind of travelers when travel itself began to be out of reach in 2020 in the face of a pandemic. Cebu and the Visayas Cebu, Boracay and Pala- far-flung stunners in Southtopped in 2020 Readers’ wan already took spots in the east Asia to volcanic outcrops Choice survey for best is- past Readers’ Choice surveys, in the Mediterranean. lands in the Asian Region by but this is the first time that For its 33rd annual survey the international travel mag- Cebu and the Visayas took the this year, the choices are done azine “Conde Nast Traveler.” plum. by region: Best of Asia, Best of A photo of the prestigious Cebu and the Visayas Australia and the South Pacifmagazine was posted on his have been voted best in Asia ic, Best of the Caribbean and Facebook page by Regional with a score of 95.83 per- the Atlantic, Best of Europe, Director Shalimar Hofer Ta- cent, Sri Lanka at 95.45%, Ko Best of North America, and mano, of the Department of Pha Ngan in Thailand with Best of the Rest in the World. Tourism. “Condé Nast” is a global 95.30%, Palawan with 95.22% Cebu and the Visayas and Siargao at 95.19% as media company that producbeat Sri Lanka, Ko Pha Ngan shown by the November 2020 es some of the world’s leading in Thailand, Palawan, Phil- issue of the said magazine print, digital, video and social ippines; and Siargao, Philip- citing 600,000 survey respon- brands. These include Vogue, pines. “Conde Nast Traveler dents worldwide. GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity proclaims Cebu & Visayas The survey ranked the 35 Fair, Wired and Architectural number one. Congrats!” Ta- best islands in the world out- Digest (AD), Condé Nast Travmano said in his post. side the United States from eler and La Cucina Italiana,
Sandbar in Cebu, Philippines photo via Depositphotos (outoftownblog.com)
among others. The magazine reaches 88 million consumers in print, 427 million in digital and 423
million across social platforms. Headquartered in New York and London, Conde Nast operates in 32 markets includ-
Trikes, pedicabs on highways OK if supported with local ordinance AS LONG as there is a local ordinance, the tricycles and pedicabs - motorized or not can ply on national highways in Cebu province. This was the clarification of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Joaden Lucero, adding that local governments must pass an ordinance allowing their operations together with a tricycle route plan (TRP) and a schematic map. Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 Chief Transportation Officer Joel Maloloy-on also assured that they will not apprehend tricycles, pedicabs if there is an ordinance passed by the local governments. However, they will apprehend those that who will go beyond their respective jurisdiction. Lucero appeared before the Provincial Board during its session following the invitation of 5th District Board Member Red Duterte, chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Public Services, to clear the confusion in the implementation of DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2020-036 which prohibits tricycles and pedicabs from operating on national highways to ensure the safety
ARMM
of the riding public. Duterte said that in Barili town, these tricycles and pedicabs are allowed on national highway, but are prohibited in Toledo City pursuant. “Gi-point out man gud ni 3rd District Board Member Atty. John Ismael Borgonia what happened in his District. I think common ni sa ubang distrito pud nga ang mga implementing agency maglibog kay naa gihapoy madakpan intawn nga tricycle nag-ply sa national highway bisan ang portion kuno is pwede sa ordinansa,” he stressed. Lucero said the Provincial Board and Sangguniang Bayan are given the power to regulate the operation of their towns’ tricycles and pedicabs. However, this is still subject to the guidelines of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). Based on the DOTr guidelines, as a general rule, no tricycles should operate on national highways for safety reason, but with an exception. If there is no alternative route, tricycles are allowed to operate provided their operation is backed by an ordinance, TRP, and schematic map. Lucero said the period of validity of the TRP shall be valid only for two years from the is-
suance of the DILG Memorandum. After two years, an assessment will be made. Meanwhile, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 Director Eduardo Montealto, Jr. said traditional jeepneys and
multicabs are allowed to ply in the province subject to public health protocols. These vehicles must also pass the road worthiness test conducted by the LTO. “They should have the certificate of road worthiness, apil
na niana ang emission. Maoy kadaghanan nga nabagsak ang uban tungod anang road worthiness. Kay first ang safety, kinahanglan dili lang sa health protocols. It’s the safety also from the condition of their vehicles,” he said. (Mylen Manto)
ing China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Latin America, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with additional license partners throughout the world. Founded in 1909 by American publisher Condé Montrose Nast, after his purchase of a weekly society gazette from New York called Vogue, Condé Nast Magazine has since grown to become a benchmark of publishing quality travel content known across the globe. (Eleanor Valeros)
Bantayan Island to open new airport TOURISTS CAN soon easily visit Cebu’s famous Bantayan Island as its commercial airport in Santa Fe town is set to open on October 16 with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia leading the inauguration ceremony. Garcia said she invited Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Shahlimar Hofer Tamano to grace the event - a milestone both for Bantayan Island and the province. The governor will also meet the tourism stakeholders in the island to prepare for the reopening of its tourism activities. Tamano thanked the governor for the invitation and shared the collaboration the Capitol, DOT, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have done in re-opening the tourism activities in Badian, Alegria, Moalboal, and Cordova towns.
Eastern Mindanao
“We will be in Bantayan next week. There will be a dialogue between the (provincial tourism) task force and our stakeholders in the three towns (Santa Fe, Bantayan, and Madridejos),” he said. The DOT will also carry out its “Oplan Islas,” a mobile accreditation program partnership between the DOT 7, Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority, that provides a one-stop shop for the registration and accreditation of water tourist transport operators, boat men and dive operators. “Here in the region, we make sure that all tourist transports are accredited, including kanang sa island hopping, dili ni parehas sa mass transport ha? Para ni siya sa island hopping, these should be accredited,” Tamano said. “We are really opening not mainly for
Western Mindanao
leisure but really for employment. Most of our stakeholders should get back their jobs slowly but surely, so mao na atong direction.” Garcia also praised DOT’s “Wake Up in PH” campaign video and travel safety advisories. The “Wake Up in the PH” videos are 16 films that highlight the best tourism spots all over the country. This far-reaching campaign attempts to showcase all the fun one can experience in the Philippines in all of its 16 regions. Last September 30, the Cebu Provincial Government and Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the termination of a previous agreement signed in 2018 and the new MOA paves the way for the development of a commercial airport located in
Cebu
Santa Fe. “Things are looking very, very bright for Bantayan Island,” Garcia said during the MOA signing for the development of Bantayan Island’s community airport into a commercial one. The airport sits on a 29-hectare government property and can only accommodate aviation and propeller planes and chartered flights then. Under the new MOA, the MCIAA will continue to improve the airport including its P94-million expansion of the runway and improvement of its terminal. From a 900-meter runway, it is increased to 1.2 kilometers to accommodate bigger planes. “From a community airport, we are looking forward to growing this into a commercial airport,” Garcia said. (Eleanor Valeros)
Manila